Lower Parking Fees During Metro Shutdown Approved In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Discounted parking garage rates during the upcoming summer Metro shutdown were approved by the Alexandria City Council on Tuesday, May 14.

The proposal applies to four parking garages and three surface parking lots (876 total spaces) in Old Town Alexandria between May 24 and Sept. 8. If approved, the city-owned garages and lots except Courthouse Garage at 111 South Pitt Street would have a $2 flat rate after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends. The Courthouse Garage is proposed to have a $1 flat rate for these same times since it is not used as much.

There are no proposed changes to weekday parking rates before 5 p.m. The current rate is $2.50 per hour or a maximum $10. The Union Station lot has a maximum $15 rate.

The current rates after 5 p.m. on weekdays and on weekdays is $2.50 per hour or a maximum $5 (except at Union Station). These rates would resume after Metro's shutdown concludes.

The proposal came after the Old Town Area Parking Study found that the neighborhood is not lacking in parking spaces, but off-street parking is underutilized. City staff identified garage parking to mitigate the impact of more people driving to Old Town during the Metro shutdown. The parking reduction rate seeks to drive people to park in garages than on the street and in residential areas.

The discounted parking fees are proposed at these locations:

• Courthouse Garage 111 South Pitt Street, 289 spaces
• Market Square Garage 108 North Fairfax Street, 219 spaces
• N Union Street Garage 220 North Union Street, 175 spaces
• Thompson’s Alley Garage 10 Thompson’s Alley, 68 spaces
• Cameron/St. Asaph Street Surface Lot 211 North St. Asaph Street, 53 spaces
• Henry Street Surface Lot 112 South Henry Street, 48 spaces
• Union Station Paved Surface Lot 110 Callahan Drive, 24 spaces

The lower parking fee proposal received support from Visit Alexandria, which represents hundreds of member businesses. A letter to City Council cited the impact of the closed Metro stations on local businesses. Visit Alexandria said the discounted parking will send the message that Alexandria is "open for business."

The Braddock Road, King Street-Old Town, Eisenhower Avenue, Van Dorn Street, Huntington and Franconia-Springfield Metro stations will be closed from May 25 to Sept. 8.

Prepare for the Metro shutdown

• WMATA webpage on project details and alternative transportation
• City of Alexandria's summer Metro shutdown webpage
• Fairfax County's summer Metro shutdown webpage